eURC sub-article e4 (b) (v) (Definitions) defines "format" as "the data organisation in which the electronic record is expressed or to which it refers". Format is used to describe the system language or protocol in which the electronic record is encoded.
The format of each electronic record must be as previously arranged between the remitting bank and the collecting or presenting bank, as required by sub-article e1 (b) which refers to the existence of a required prior arrangement between the remitting bank and the collecting or presenting bank which should include the format in which each electronic record will be issued and presented.
Data processing systems are not able to access every format into which data is organised. Therefore, it is vital that the data be formatted in a manner that is readable by the data processing system to be used. The failure to do so will mean that the data cannot be accessed or read in an intelligible manner.
This article stipulates a serious consequence for the failure to specify a format, namely that an electronic record received in a format that has not previously been agreed may be treated as not received.